Premier League - Everton late show stuns Zola

Eurosport - Sat, 08 Nov 18:28:00 2008

Everton scored three late goals in the space of four minutes as they hit back to defeat West Ham 3-1 in their Premier League match at Upton Park.

Joleon Lescott - 0

Jack Collison's first goal for West Ham looked as if it would end their run of five matches without a win.

But Joleon Lescott equalised seven minutes from time before Louis Saha added two in as many minutes as David Moyes' side won for the fourth time on their travels this season.

20-year-old Collison, an early substitute for Matthew Upson, broke the deadlock after 62 minutes as he curled home a shot following a delightful backheel by Scott Parker.

Collison had come on inside the opening 20 minutes after Upson was stretchered off after landing heavily after leaping to win a header.

The Hammers were good value for their lead but capitulated in the closing stages as Saha drifted into space on the right and he was allowed time to pick out Lescott who headed home unmarked from six yards.

Then Victor Anichebe's cross from the right was met by Saha whose shot deflected off James Collins and nestled in the net, via the post.

And their misery was compounded when Julien Faubert gifted the ball away and Saha unleashed a swerving 25-yard shot that deceived Robert Green to leave West Ham with just one point from their last 18.

There had been little to suggest such a comeback in the opening 45 minutes as Gianfranco Zola paired teenager Freddie Sears with Craig Bellamy in attack and the duo proved a real threat to the Toffees rearguard.

Phil Neville headed a chip from Sears straight to Bellamy, who was unmarked on the edge of the penalty area, but he blazed over.

And shortly after a great stepover from Bellamy deceived Joseph Yobo and he squared to Sears whose close range strike was superbly tipped onto the crossbar by Tim Howard.

Bellamy was less impressed with his strike partner however when Luis Boa Morte threaded a delicate pass through to Sears who fired wide from eight yards out with the Welsh international begging for the square ball.

Everton failed to test Green at all in the opening period with an early Saha volley, that went wide, and a Leon Osman shot over the crossbar the only efforts on goal of note.

But they had a great chance after finally winning their first corner on 55 minutes only for Mikel Arteta's deep delivery to be nodded wide by young Jack Rodwell from five yards out.

The Merseysiders began to offer more in the attacking third and Tim Cahill saw a rasping shot charged down by Collison.

Vaughan was also just inches away from applying a finishing touch to Lescott's header across goal but the real drama was to come in the closing stages.

Lee Walker / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 13 of 13

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  1. 66 years a BLUE and proud of it.Moyes a life saver keep the good work up.

    From n/a, on Sun 9 Nov 12:06AM

  2. Another great win! COYBB's! It wasn't pretty, but there are no photographs on score sheets. I know of a team who are recognised as the best in the world, and they have been saving their goals until the dying minutes since the dawn of the premier league - and it has always seemed like a recipe for success for them. Saha looks like he is beginning to shine, and rightly so. Everton have been criticised for signing him and he is answering his critics - come on you beauty. Bit more of the same please boys!

    From robertjohnsmall, on Sat 8 Nov 8:36PM

  3. well done blue boys; what a manager moyes is to get a proven goal scorer like saha for free. man united must feel sick as pigs ending up with second rate player like berbatov. from boff the blue.

    From boffer, on Sat 8 Nov 8:24PM

  4. John H your are a txxxxr If west ham are a lower league side how come 4 out the 9 brits in last years champions league final came from west ham academy. Well done toffees at least you had a chance to see good football. Dear John H dont forget to flush your head!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From j.king720@..., on Sat 8 Nov 6:36PM

  5. Saha looks like he is on fire at the moment long live King Louis.

    From Scouse.Brown, on Sat 8 Nov 5:37PM

  6. things are looking up for the toffees 10 points out of a possible 12 very good indeed lets have more like that

    From TERENCE E, on Sat 8 Nov 5:26PM

  7. 3 wins on the trot, and we've been the worse side in each! Just imagine what we'll do when we actually play well!

    From goodisonpark_owner, on Sat 8 Nov 5:24PM

  8. Well done Everton. West Ham are just an ordinary lower league side.

    From Bobby Robson A Legend, on Sat 8 Nov 5:23PM

  9. What a nice way to celebrate the Armistice Day weekend, "defeat is not an option" should now be emblazoned on the Blues shirts. Hard luck to West Ham, they played the better football and had much of the play for much of the game. I was very disappointed with a small element of their so called fans leaving in their droves though.
    A big thanks for Mr Zola in bringing such an entertaining side forward today, and Mr David "never say die" Moyes, for making the changes so, count. "Nil Satis Nisi Optimum",
    surely a taste of things to come.

    From kelly b mr, on Sat 8 Nov 5:22PM

  10. Everton you make us proud .........What a heart attack !!! What a relief !!!!

    From EE, on Sat 8 Nov 5:20PM

  11. What a nice way to celebrate the Armistice Day weekend, "defeat is not an option" should now be emblazoned on the Blues shirts. Hard luck to West Ham, they played the better football and had much of the play for much of the game. I was very disappointed with a small element of their so called fans leaving in their droves though.
    A big thanks for Mr Zola in bringing such an entertaining side forward today, and Mr David "never say die" Moyes, for making the changes so, count. "Nil Satis Nisi Optimum",
    surely a taste of things to come.

    From kelly b mr, on Sat 8 Nov 5:19PM

  12. Well done Everton, that is a very good win and proves our team does not give up.

    From WILLIAM, on Sat 8 Nov 5:06PM

  13. ManU is kicking themself now for giving up Saha for Berbatov, its a no brainer why would you give away a goal scorer for a whimp. well better for us Gunners.

    From dercute, on Sat 8 Nov 5:05PM
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